Foundation garment with crotch strap



Oct. 18, 1966 R. SCHUSTACK FOUNDATION GARMENT WITH CROTCH STRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4, 1964 Robert Oct. 18, 1966 R. SCHUSTACK FOUNDATION GARMENT WITH CROTCH STRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1964 INVENTOR. Roberl Sam/flack United States Patent 3,279,469 FOUNDATION GARMENT WITH CROTCH STRAP Robert Schustack, New Rochelle, N.Y. (29 W. 30th St., New York, N.Y.) Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 408,879 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-526) This invention relates generally to undergarments and more particularly to a ladys figure control garment conventionally described as a panty girdle and comprising an elastic body adapted to enclose tightly the mid-portion of the body to support the abdomen and otherwise improve the appearance of the body of the wearer.

It is highly desirable in such panty girdles when worn with form-fitting outer garments that the crotch structure be displaceable in order to permit body functions without requiring the removal of the panty girdle of loosening of the outer garment.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a panty girdle adapted to be worn with a tight formfitting outer garment that is provided with a crotch structure readily displaceable for sanitary purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panty girdle with a crotch structure that is connected to the body of the girdle in such a manner that the crotch structure conforms to the body and yields to strain imposed thereon independently of the remainder of the garment and locks itself in place over the open crotch edges thereby retained against easy separation therefrom and the uncovering of the crotch opening.

A further object is to provide a crotch structure which may be formed of stretchable relatively soft, non-irritating material adapted to engage the body without undue strain or chafing, and wherein means is provided whereby a substantially high degree of yieldability is maintained between the crotch structure and the body of the garment to compensate for strain due to assuming different positions.

Still another object is to provide releasable and reversible connection means for the crotch structure of relatively fiat form so that such means will not irritate the body or produce bulges on the exterior of the garment.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide :a form-fitting panty girdle having a crotch structure of simple construction and partially displaceable and secured in position on the garment in such manner as to afford the wearer maximum comfort.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a panty girdle embodying one form of the invention, the crotch structure being shown, the body of the panty girdle being shown in a slightly folded condition free of the body.

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the crotch structure in partly releasable inoperative position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the crotch structure in partly released inoperative position.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational View of the panty girdle shown in position on a wearer, small parts being broken away.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged disassembled perspective and collective view of a fragment of a panty girdle embodying a modified form of the invention, the crotch structure being shown in open inoperative position.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the panty girdle of FIG. 6 taken generally on the line 77 of FIG. 6 but showing the crotch structure in closed operative position.

Referring now more in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a panty girdle 10 is shown embodying one form of the invention. The panty girdle 10 comprises a pair of combined front and side panels 12, 12 separated by a sectional insert 14 at the front secured to the front edges of the panels by rows of stitching 16, 16. The front-side panels 12, 12 are formed of suitable elastic fabric and the insert 16 is formed of nonelastic fabric and may be decorated, if desired. A rear panel 18 of non-elastic fabric material is secured to the rear edges of the front and side panels 12, 12 by rows of stitching 20, 20, FIG. 5. The tubular leg portions 22, 22 are formed from the material of the front-side and rear panels 12, 18, secured to each other at the ends by a row of stitching 24 that is continuous with stitching 24' that connects the crotch structure 46 to the lower end of rear panel 18 to be described later more in detail.

It should be observed, however, that the stitching 24 is well to the rear of the garment and thus more upon the rear of the leg and through the crotch of the wearer thereby to provide only smooth portions of the garment between the legs and to avoid chafing. Elastic looped connections 30 stitched inside the garment to the leg portions 22 at the front and rear thereof secure stocking garter clasps 32 to said leg portions. An elastic band 26 secured to the panels by lines of stitching 28 finish off the leg portions.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel crotch structure is provided between the top ends of the tubular leg portions 22, 22. For this purpose, the inner top sides of the leg portions and the bottom ends of the front panels and bottom end of the rear panel are cutaway forming an elongated oval-shaped opening 40, the edge of the opening being finished off by a strip of folded-over elastic tape 42 secured by stitching 44 and stretchable longitudinally. This tape 42 provides an enlargement for locking engagement of the sides of crotch piece 46 therewith.

The crotch structure consists of a rectangular-shaped panel 46 preferably constructed of a relatively thin, soft, woven fabric such for instance as finely woven Jersey cloth, so woven that it stretches only in one direction, that is, longitudinally of the panel, lengthwise of the crotch, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4. One end of the panel 46 is secured to the bottom of the rear panel 18 by the stitching 26. The sides and other end of the panel 46 are unattached.

The sides of the panel 46 are finished off by hems 48, 48 and the unattached end of the panel is slightly pointed as indicated at 50 and is finished off with a two-ply nonstretchable fabric tape 52.

The assembling of the garment to form the legs and the fixing of the crotch piece 46 thereto is done in the same operation and by the same and continuous stitching 24 of the leg panel together and the crotch piece to the bottom end of the rear panel 18. The opposite side ends of the crotch piece are also included in the stitching 24 of the leg panels.

A series of three spaced female snap fastener elements 54 are secured to the tape 52, at its ends and at its pointed midway. A series of three spaced cornplemental male snap fastener elements 56 are also secured to the front and side panels 12 and to the bottom of the insert 14 around the front end of the opening 40. The male snap fastener elements 56 are spaced similarly to the spacing of the female snap fastener elements 54. The

crotch panel 46 in its unstretched condition is somewhat shorter in length than the length of the crotch opening 40 and slightly wider than the opening so that when the panel 46 is in closed operative position as shown in FIG. 1, the side edges of crotch panel 46 is stretched over the side tape 44 finishing off the opening 40 as shown in FIG. 1. The crotch panel 46 has a one-way stretch lengthwise and negligible stretch widthwise.

The crotch opening 40 extends from the rear of the garment and the stitching 24 for the leg panels runs up the leg to the rear of the opening 40 and joins the crotch piece 46 to the rear panel and rear of the opening 40. The panel 46 being shorter than the opening 40, when it is fastened by means of the snap fastener elements, is under suflicient tension to maintain the crotch structure 46 in smooth fitting relation with the hemmed edges 48 of the crotch panel 46 lockingly engaged over the relatively thick side tapes 44 of the opening 40.

In walking, climbing, bending and sitting postures, the elastic tape 44 around the crotch opening 40 and the panel 46 will stretch with the lengthening and shortening of the body lines, while the back panel 18 remains substantially fixed with respect to the waist and hips, and consequently strain upon the crotch structure 46 and the tendency to bind, draw and twist is largely eliminated. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the free end of the crotch panel 46 may be unfastened and dropped down for sanitary purposes.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated a modified form of panty girdle 10 wherein a fabric lining 60 is provided for the panel 46'. The lining 60 is shaped similarly to the panel 46' with a pointed tab 62 formed on its end opposite the pointed end. The pointed end is provided with spaced snap fastener elements 64 spaced similarly to the spacing of the female snap fastener elements 54 on the panel 46' and complemental to said elements 54, the elements 64 being of both the male and female type.

The lining 60 is preferably composed of waterproof fabric material at least on one side. In order to accommodate the lining 60, and to permit slight longitudinal movement thereof, the panel 46' is formed with a trans verse slot 66 to receive the tab 62 in interlocking relation as shown in FIG. 7, While the complemental snap fastener elements are in fastened relation as seen in FIG. 7.

In all other respects, the girdle 10' is similar to girdle 10 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A panty girdle comprising a tubular body including front and side and rear panels, a front insert disposed between the front panels and secured thereto, legs integral with the front and side panels, inner upper side portions of the legs and the bottom of the panels being cutaway providing an elongated opening, and a crotch structure closing said opening, said crotch structure including a rectangular panel of one-way lengthwise stretchable fabric material secured at one end to the bottom end of the rear panel at the rear of the opening, the other end and sides of the crotch panel being unattached, said crotch panel being, when unstretched, being shorter than the length of the opening, and means provided upon the free end of the crotch panel and on the front insert for releasably holding the crotch structure in operative positive position, said crotch opening having an enlargement of elastic along the sides thereof and said crotch structure having overlying and locking engagement at its side edges with the elastic enlargement of the crotch opening.

2. A parity girdle comprising a tubular body including front and side and rear panels, a front insert disposed between the front panels and secured thereto, legs integral with the front and side panels, inner upper side portions of the legs and the bottom of the panels being cutaway providing an elongated oval-shaped opening, an elastic band secured to the edge of the opening, and a crotch structure closing said opening, said crotch structure including a rectangular panel secured at one end to the bottom end of the rear panel, the other end and sides of the crotch panel being unattached, and complementary snap fastener elements on the other free end of the crotch panel and on the bottoms of the front panels and front insert for releasably holding the crotch structure in displacing position, said crotch panel being of a width to close the opening and overlap the elastic band on the edge thereof thereby providing a stretch interlock between the crotch panel and legs of the girdle.

3. A parity girdle comprising a tubular body including front and side and rear panels, a front insert disposed between the front panels and secured thereto, legs integral with the front and side panels, inner upper sides of the legs and the bottom of the panels being cutaway providing an elongated opening, an elastic band secured to the edge of the opening, and a crotch structure closing said opening, said crotch structure including a rectangular panel secured at one end to the bottom end of the rear panel, the other end and sides of the crotch panel being unattached, and complementary snap fastener elements on the other free end of the crotch panel and on the bottom of the front panels and front insert for releasably holding the crotch structure in displacing position, and a lining member removably attached to the inner surface of the crotch panel.

4. A panty girdle comprising a tubular body including front and side and rear panels, a front insert disposed between the front panels and secured thereto, legs integral with the front and side panels, inner upper sides of the legs and the bottom of the panels being cutaway providing an elongated opening, an elastic band secured to the edge of the opening, and a crotch structure closing said opening, said crotch structure including a rectangular panel secured at one end to the bottom end of the rear panel, the other end and sides of the crotch panel being unattached, and complementary snap fastener elements on the other free end of the crotch panel and on the bottom of the front panels and front insert for releasably holding the crotch structure in displacing position, and a lining member removably attached to the inner surface of the crotch panel, said liner member having snap fastener elements on one end thereof adapted to coact with female snap fastener elements on the free end of the crotch panel, and a tape on the other end of the lining member for insertion through a slot in the panel crotch adjacent its fastened end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,490,137 12/ 1949 Keller 128-526 2,908,277 10/ 1959 Peck l28525 3,097,651 7/ 1963 Lehman 128526 3,153,416 10/l964 Cuozzi 128528 3,220,410 11/1965 Sloan 128-528 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner, 

1. A PANTY GIRDLE COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY INCLUDING FRONT AND SIDE AND REAR PANELS, A FRONT INSERT DISPOSED BETWEEN THE FRONT PANELS AND SECURED THERETO, LEGS INTEGRAL WITH THE FRONT AND SIDE PANELS, INNER UPPER SIDE PORTIONS OF THE LEGS AND THE BOTTOM OF THE PANELS BEING CUTAWAY PROVIDING AN ELONGATED OPENING, AND A CROTCH STRUCTURE CLOSING SAID OPENING, SAID CROTCH STRUCTURE INCLUDING A RECTANGULAR PANEL OF ONE-WAY LENGTHWISE STRETCHABLE FABRIC MATERIAL SECURED AT ONE END TO THE BOTTOM END OF THE REAR PANEL AT THE REAR OF THE OPENING, THE OTHER END AND SIDES OF THE CROTCH PANEL BEING UNATTACHED, SAID CROTCH PANEL BEING, WHEN UNSTRETCHED, BEING SHORTER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE OPENING, AND MEANS PROVIDED UPON THE FREE END OF THE CROTCH PANEL AND ON THE FRONT INSERT FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING THE CROTCH STRUCTURE IN OPERATIVE POSITIVE POSITION, SAID CROTCH OPENING HAVING AN ENLARGEMENT OF ELASTIC ALONG THE SIDES THEREOF AND SAID CROTCH STRUCTURE HAVING OVERLYING AND LOCKING ENGAGEMENT AT ITS SIDE EDGES WITH THE ELASTIC ENLARGEMENT OF THE CROTCH OPENING. 